And frank sanders



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H.-REINHARDT & F. SANDERS.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

No. 541,180. Patented June 18,1895.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. RBINHARDT & F. SANDERS.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

Patented June 18, 1895.

NTTED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JAMES H. REINHARDT, OF NE\VARK, NE\V JERSEY, AND FRANK SANDERS, OFBROOKLYN, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNORS TO JOSEPH WETTER, OF BROOKLYN,

NEY YORK.

NUMBERlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,180, dated June 19,1895.

Application filed July 10. 1894- Serial No. 517,061. (No model) To (LZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. REINHARDT, of Newark, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, and FRANK SANDERS, of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Numbering-Machines; and we do hereby declare thatthe following is a full and exact description thereof, reference tobeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for printing numbers or otherdistinguishing characr5 ters upon a series of tickets or labels or otherlike objects, and particularly to machines of this general descriptionwhich are adapted for printing and numbering the successive tickets of astrip from which the tickets are to be torn or cut off.

One object of the invention is to producea machine which will permit thenumberinghead to be placed wherever required and which can be readilyadapted for printing tickets of different lengths or Widths.

A further object is to provide for the operation of the machine in sucha manner that successive series of tickets or labels may be printed upona continuous strip of paper 0 or other material with a proper spacebetween the successive series without requiring the machine to bestopped or special feeding devices to be provided for feeding forwardthe strip at intervals.

Machines which embody the several features of the invention will bedescribed in detail hereinafter and such features will be pointed outparticularly in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central longi- 0 tudinal section througha rotary machine which embodies the improvements, some of theco-operating parts, such as the platen or impression-cylinder and theinking devices, being omitted. Fig. 2 is an end view of the machinelooking in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1, the central shaft beingin section on the line ac a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the liney y of Fig. 1, also looking in the direction of the arrow on saidfigure. Fig. at

is a detail view showing in side elevation the ratchet-wheel secured tothe units numberingwheel of the numbering-head, a part of the pawl-frameof the numbering-head being also shown and the units-wheel beingindicated by a dotted line. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are similar views showing,respectively, the tens-wheel anditsappurtenances,theten-toothedratchetwheel secured to one side of thecancelingwheel, and the canceling-wheel with its mutilatedratchet-wheel. Fig. 8 is a detail View in longitudinal section throughthe unitswheel and the tens-wheel to illustrate the operation of themovable type-block in the tens-Wheel. Fig. 9 is aside view of the tens-Wheel with its movable block, the actuating pin carried by theunits-wheel being represented in section on the line a z of Fig. 8. Fig.10 is a detail view of the frame supporting the numbering-heads. Fig. Itis a partialside elevation of a rotary machine, showing a differentarrangement of the devices for securing the numberingheads adjustably inposition. Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 13 is adetail view in perspective of one of the numbering-head frames orcasings shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 1a is a detail view in perspective of oneof the split rings shown in Fig. ll.

The mechanism embodying the improvements is represented as supportedupon or with relation to a shaft A (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to whichrotary movement is imparted through any suitable means, which may berepresented by the gear B. The numbering heads or other printing devicesare not immovably fixed to said shaft but are so supported thereon as tobe removable readily whenever those in use are to be replaced by others,and furthermore are so supported as to beadj ustable not onlylongitudinally upon said shaft but also around said shaft so that, ifnecessary, any one numbering head may be placed exactly in the requiredposition, that two or more numbering heads may be disposedlongitudinally upon said shaft as required and that two or morenumbering heads may also be disposed in the same line about said shaft.For these purposes supporting devices are provided which may be securedin adjusted position about the shaft A and by which the numbering headsmay be secured thereto and at the same time made adjustablelongitudinally. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10, each separate deviceis composed of one or more blocks 0, C, and longitudinal bars. D, D,which are secured to said block or blocks. Each block or O rests uponthe shaft A, having a seat a for that purpose, and is held in' place bya flanged ring or collar E which is secured to the shaft, as by a setscrew e, and engages a shoulder c which is formed on the face of theblock 0 or O, a'set screw e being preferably tapped through the flangeof the ring or collar E to bear upon said with offsets 0 c to form seatsfor a piece of furniture F which maybe placed adjacent to the numberinghead for the purpose of supporting an electrotype F. As represented inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawings three frames are shown in position aboutthe shaft A with a corresponding number of blocks F, F, but it will beobvious that any number of frames may be secured in position accordingto the nature of the work to be done and the length. of the tickets orlabels to be printed.

One or more numbering heads are mounted between the bars D, D, of thesupporting frame and may be moved longitudinally therein. The end piecesGand G of the frame or casing of each numbering head are notched, as atg, to engage the bars D or D and are preferably united by a bar g, whichalso forms a seat for a block F, and by the shaft g on which the wheelsof the numbering head are mounted. Means are preferably providedwherebythe several numbering wheels sup-.

ported in a single frame may be actuated together. For this purpose ashaft I-Iis mounted in suitable hearings in the blocks 0,0, and passesthrough apertures in the end pieces G and G. At one end said shaft hasfixed thereto an arm I (see Figs. 1 and 2) which bears at its extremitya roller 4,. As the shaft A rotates the roller 2' strikes a fixedprojection J and is thereby caused to rock the shaft H sufficiently toactuate the numbering head, the shaft H being returned to its initialposition after each operation by a spring h and the movement of theshaft being limited by a toe 'i' which is adapted to contact with theshaft A. Between the end pieces G and G of each numbering head the shaftH is encircled by a hub K which In the machine represented in thedrawings the numbering head is shown as adapted to print from 1 to 100,or vice versa, and then to begin again with the same series of numbers.It will be understood, however, that so far as concerns that portion ofthe invention already described the numbering head might be of any'ordinary construction and that, furthermore, so far as the inventionrelates to the construction of the numbering head itself, the number ofnumbering wheels might be varied as well as the particular arrangementshown. In the machine represented the units wheel M (Figs. 1, 4 and 8)bears on its periphery the figures from O to 9 inclusive and has fixedon one side thereof a ten'toothed ratchet wheel 111., one of the notchesm, in said wheel being considerably deeper than the rest, as is usual innumbering heads of this description to permit the engagement of the nextpawl with the ratchet wheel of the tens wheel at the proper time. Thetens wheel N (Figs. 1, 5 and 8) bears upon its periphery the figuresfrom 1 to 9 inclusive and is provided, in the usual manner, with aradially movable type block n which in the present case bears the 1 andO. The block at is normally held from the plane of print by a spring nand is thrust outward to the plane of print at the proper time by a pinn which is fixed to the units wheel M and,

traveling in a groove n in the proximate face of the tens wheel N,engages an overhanging edge of the type block W. and thrusts said blockoutwardly. Fixed tothe wheel N to rotate therewith is a ten-toothedratchet-wheel n 'which is substantially of the same diameter as theratchet wheel before referred to, and has one deep notch n for a purposeto be referred to. its appurtenances a third or supplementary wheel 0(Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7) is mounted upon the shaft g and, in the presentcase, has upon its periphery two characters 0, 0' which serve ashereinafter described, to distinguish certain of the labels or ticketsfrom another which bears the same number. Upon the side of the wheel 0toward the wheel N is fixed a ten-toothed ratchet wheel 0 which issubstantially of the same diameter as the ratchet wheel m and a but hasone low tooth 0 Adjacent to' the tens wheel and f Upon the other side ofsaid wheel 0 is fixeda 1 mutilated ratcht t wheel 0 wh ch in the presentcase has three teeth the first of which is one step behind the low tootho of the wheel .0 The number of the teeth of the mutilated ratchet wheelo will vary according to the length of the strip which it is desiredshall intervene between the end of one series of tickets or labels andthe beginning of the next series, as will hereinafter more clearlyappear. The several pawls m a o and 0, which co-operate with therespective ratchet wheels m, n, 0 and 0 as is usually the case, areformed on one plate or are united to move as one by a bar 19, but thepawls are not allot the same length. The pawl m is of such a lengthrelative to the ratchet wheel at that when in engagement with said wheelat it will hold the pawls a and 0 which may be of equal length, fromengagement with theirrespective ratchet wheels. The pawl 0 is of such alength relative to the mutilated ratchet wheel 0 that when in engagementwith the teeth thereof it will hold all of the other pawls out ofengagement with their respective ratchet wheels. The radius of the tootho of the ratchet wheel 0 is such that it can be engaged by its pawl onlywhen both pawls m and n enter simultaneously the deep notches m and 01The ratchet wheels m, n and 0 are engaged by hold pawls in the usualmanner, one of said pawls being shown at R in Fig. 3.

The mode of assembling the machines and securing them in proper positionupon the shaft A will be clearly understood without further descriptionherein. It will be obvious that the machines might be secured bysuitable means upon a cylinder of any diameter or even upon a flatbed-plate, the frames being readily adapted to presses of any size bysimply reducing the length of the longitudinal bars and of the shaft H.It willalso be understood that each rotation of the shaft A the unitswheel M of each numberinghead will be advanced one step, except asdescribed below and'that the tens wheel N will be advanced one step ateach rotation of the units wheel M, the movable type block a beingbrought out to the plane of print at the proper time to print 100 in theusual manner. it will also be obvious that ordinarily the supplementarywheel 0 will be advanced step by step with the tens wheel N through theengagement of the pawl 0*, with the ratchet wheel 0 Such movement of thewheel 0 with the wheel N does not take place until (in the particulararrangement represented) the number has been printed, but the wheel 0stands still during the printing of all numbers from 71 to 99 becausethe pawl 0 is held from engagement with the low tooth 0 by reason of thebearing of the pawl m on the wheel on or of the pawl n on the wheel 71.The shifting of the wheels M and N to bring 100 to the line of print iseffected by the engagement of the pawls m and n with the deep notches mand 02 respectively. Consequently the pawl o is at the same timepermitted to engage the low tooth o and to advance the wheel 0 one step.Up to this time the teeth of the mutilated ratchet wheel 0 have not beenin position to be engaged by the pawl 0, but on the next movement of thepawl frame after 100 has been printed the pawl o engages the first toothof the mutilated ratchet wheel 0" and brings the first of the cancelingcharacters 0 to the line of print. At the same time and through theconnection of the pawls, all of the other pawls are lifted fromengagement with their respective ratchet wheels and no movement of theunits and tens wheels takes place. The second movement of the pawl framein a similar manner brings the second canceling character to the line ofprintwhile the units and tens wheels remain stationary. It thus happensthat after the ticket numbered 100 has been properly printed two or moretickets are printed with the number 100 and with the canceling characterin addition. These two canceled tickets afford a sutiicient length ofstrip between two successive series of tickets to effect a properengagement of each series when separated from the rest, with the spindleof the reel on which such single strip is wound. At the next movement ofthe pawl frame the figure l of the units wheel is brought to the line ofprint and the movable block it is released to retire its characters fromthe plane of print. It is obvious that the supplementary wheel 0 shouldcomplete a rotation at the same time with the tens wheel N in order thatthe canceling figure may be brought to the line of print at the propermoment, and it will also be obvious from the foregoing description thatthe supplementary wheel moves three steps while the tens wheel isstationary. In order therefore that the supplementary wheel may remainstationary during three advances of the tens wheel the low tooth o isprovided on the ratchet wheel 0 so that the tens wheel may be advancedstep by step at the proper time and that the pawl o may be held out ofengagement with the ratchet 0 during three advances of said tens wheel,thereby bringing the tens wheel and the canceling wheel again into thesame relative position.

In Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 it is intended to represent a modifiedarrangement of the devices for securing the numbering-heads in positionwhile pemitting the adjustment thereof either circumferentiallyorlongitudinally. In this arrangement the frame or casing of eachnumbering-head may be substantially the same as shown in Figs. 1, 2,3and 10, the endpieces G and G being united by a bar or plate g whichforms a seat for a piece of furniture F and by the fixed shaft g onwhich the wheels M, N, &c., are mounted. Likewise, the actuating shaft Hpasses through apertures in said end-pieces, may have at one end or theother an arm I, and between the end-pieces of each casing is encircledby a hub K which may be moved longitudinally on the shaft but oscillatestherewith to transmit movement to the pawl-frame L. The shaft H may beadditionally supported,if necessary, by a block 0 which is held inposition, with capacity for circumferential adjustment, by a flangedcollar E with set screws 2 6 Each frame or casing is adapted to beengaged by a collar consisting of two parts R and R which are hingedtogether at r the ends adjacent to the hinge being provided withoutwardly projecting claws or lugs r and r". The other extremities ofthe two parts are adapted to be drawn together for the purpose ofclamping the collar upon the ICO I shaft, being preferably formed withears r W, to receive a screw r Before applying the ring to the shaft itis opened sufficiently for the purpose, thereby drawing the claws orlugs r and r together to permit them to enter between the convergingplates g of the frame or casing. The ring is then applied to the shaftand closed, causing the claws r and r to separate and engage-thenumbering-head firmly. By tightening the screw r the ring may be clampedin any desired position upon the shaft. As indicated in Fig. 11 therings' may be of such width as to permit two or more numbering heads tobe set in the same circumferential line.

We claim as our invention-- 1. The combination with a central shaft, ofa frame composed of blocks and longitudinal bars, a numbering headhaving a frame notched to engage said bars, and a flanged collar securedto said shaft and adapted to engage one of said blocks, substantially asshown and described.

2. The combination with a central shaft of frames to receive numberingheads, said frames being composed of blocks and longitudinal bars, andsaid blocks having offsets to support furniture between adjacent frames,and flanged collars secured on said shaft and adapted to engage saidblocks, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a numbering machine, the combination of a numbering wheel, aratchet wheel secured to said numbering wheel and having a deep notch, asupplementary wheel having printing characters, a full ratchet wheelsecured to said supplementary wheel and having a low tooth, a mutilatedratchet wheel also secured to said supplementary wheel, a pawl frame andthree several pawls connected to move together, the pawl in engagementwith the mutilated ratchet wheel holding the remaining pawls out ofengagement with their ratchet wheels and the pawl for engagement withthe second named ratchet being held out of engagement with the low toothof the second named ratchet Wheel, except when the pawl for the firstnamed ratchet wheel is in the deep notch thereof,'substantially as shownand described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. REINHARD'I. FRANK SANDERS. Witnesses:

A. N. J ESBERA, A. WIDDER.

